Results 4,161-4,180 of 24,555 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Bring it on.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is an important Bill, but it is also a missed opportunity. We should not have taken this week and next week to do it, which are the last weeks in which it can be done. We should have done this in a rolling way. As I said on the Order of Business two weeks ago, our role as parliamentarians and the role of our staff have changed considerably over...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I made the point in the Chamber two weeks ago that our staff are parliamentary assistants, researchers, psychotherapists, sociologists and mental health experts. They are now social media gurus, journalists writing press releases and speeches, and deal with members of the public at their most vulnerable. Nobody is taking cognisance of that in officialdom. The role has changed, as has our...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: There are not too many who are trying to ride both horses in being a Deputy and a Seanadóir. As Members of the Upper House, the research we have to do in the scrutiny of legislation means that we deserve to have parliamentary assistants and not just one member of staff. I thank the Acting Chairperson for his indulgence.

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021: Motion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I will take two minutes and leave the rest to Senator Cummins. I welcome the Minister to this important debate. I wish we had more time. Our horse and greyhound industry is very important to our country, economically and internationally. Ireland is known for how we treat our animals. It is a bit disingenuous of some to come in here and criticise the industry unfairly when they do not...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021: Motion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: The Senator will be going out in the general election, telling people one thing and then doing another thing.

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021: Motion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I have a lot more experience in the greyhound industry than the Senator.

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021: Motion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Senator Ahearn mentioned Councillors McManus and Lynch. Councillor Lynch's father and family are from Cork which has been the home of a number of Irish greyhound champions. I come from a family that supports and has had greyhounds. I know the work that is done and the care given to our greyhounds in the industry by those involved on the ground. I can vouch for those men and women. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: My apologies; I will have to attend another vote presently. I have several questions because I am not happy with what is happening. I am seeking clarity on foot of the questioning by the Chairman. I apologise for not having been present for the entire meeting. What is the exact situation in respect of the checking of Covid certificates and tests for people travelling to Ireland? There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: That is what I will do. I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I apologise most sincerely to our witnesses for our voting in the Seanad. Another vote is imminent. My earlier comments were based on the ambiguity I have heard this morning and anecdotal experiences of people coming into Ireland. What is the precise position? Who checks the Covid certificates? Are they all checked automatically? Are the antigen and PCR tests checked? If not, why...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Sorry, I do not want to be argumentative but, with respect, the term "the first line of obligation" is codology. If I am travelling, I can take the view that I will not bother if I can get away with it. Where do we start the process? I do not mean to be rude but self-obligation does not wash.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: At the point of boarding, say, at London Heathrow, if I walk up to the check-in desk or gate prior to departure or at the first point of entry, I have to provide my Covid certificate and passenger locator form before I get on the aeroplane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: Is every passenger who boards a flight, irrespective of the carrier, asked for a negative test result and passenger locator form?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: What happens if the carrier does not ask me for either of those and I land in Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock or wherever?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: May I read an email I received from a member of the travelling public who was concerned with what they saw?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I will not name names.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: It is two sentences. The person said that they were asked for a Covid test at the immigration booth but not a vaccination certificate or passenger locator form. The person further states that for those who used the e-passport gate, nothing was checked. That was yesterday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I apologise for being tetchy or cranky. As public representatives, we are receiving complaints from people who are travelling that they are not being asked for forms and results. I appreciate that there will be long queues and difficulties but if we are serious about trying to keep a variant out, there is a view that we should be checking all documentation around Covid. That is the view in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid Testing for International Travel into and out of Ireland: Discussion (8 Dec 2021)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Ms Buckley for the clarification. I apologise for being tetchy but we are getting mixed messages. This is part of the overall mixed messaging problem about which we are getting complaints. As the Chair said, there have been numerous media presentations about this issue, so I am glad we have clarified the matter. To ask an overarching question regarding the carriers, have they...